The Bugle - 19 June 2009
In news this week
Regional NRM group stories- The FBA’s Online Lunchbox series is back
- Wetlands awareness raising event held in Mackay
- Success for Ballandean students on climate change quest
- Photograph of rare bat another world first
- MangroveWatch is coming to the area
- Run rabbits run - controlling rabbit populations
- Kick-start for Killala Creek
- Best practice fire management for central Queensland
- Improved fish passage for the Mackay Whitsunday region
- State budget to deliver better environmental outcomes for Queensland
- Fishers face fines for ignoring Moreton Bay green zones
- Stranger danger a tough lesson for young fish
- Call for membership for new regional development committees
- Major research investment to help farmers adapt to climate change
- Plan to halt spread of rogue leucaena in Mackay
- Biological warfare breaking new ground to tackle bee industry threat
- Alaska's Rat Island rat-free after 229 years
- Environmental excellence recognised
- CYMAG hosts fourth Annual Marine and Coastal NRM workshop in Cooktown
- Landcare Queensland introduces new Junior Landcare activity program
- Get a job in NRM!
Regional NRM group stories
The FBA’s Online Lunchbox series is back
The Fitzroy Basin Association (FBA) has been conducting their Lunch box series as webinars, online meeting, with great success.
During the webinar you can hear the presenter, view a slide show presentation and ask questions and interact with other audience members. To participate you need an internet connection, a sound card and speakers on your computer so you can hear the presenter and if you would like to talk you will also need a microphone.
FBA’s latest series of webinars will include
- 23 June Broadsound region: a migratory shorebird haven with Roger Jaensch from Wetlands International Oceania.
- 30 June a presentation from FBA Grazing Land Management Officer Gina Mace
- 7 July a presentation from Queensland Murray-Darling Basin Committee Regional Communication Officer Lisa Yorkston
Each webinar will run for approximately one hour, between 11:30am and 12:30pm.
Next week's webinar, Broadsound region: a migratory shorebird haven features Roger Jaensch who is a senior program officer with Wetlands International, based in Brisbane and working on wetland conservation projects across northern Australia. He has studied wetlands and waterbirds for over 30 years across Australia and in parts of the wider Asia Pacific region.
With a focus on waterbird populations and conservation, Roger has spearheaded collaborative projects with NRM, university and community organisations in central Queensland over the past six years. Most recently this has addressed critical sites for migratory shorebirds on the Broad Sound coast, and he will discuss this work during his webinar.
This webinar is a must for all bird enthusiasts, and those with a passion for wetland ecology.
To join the webinar email Jody Mcdonald to register for the webinar. There are limited places available in each webinar so please register your interest early.
Wetlands awareness raising event held in Mackay
Pioneer Catchment and Landcare group held a free open day on 1 June at Wetlands Walkabout Nature Reserve in Mackay. Around 150 people attended and were shown why wetlands are important.
Reef Catchments Biodiversity Manager Peter Alden and Mark Gallate, the co-owner and wetland manager, provided guided walks around the 32 hectare property. People attending were very excited to see brolga and royal spoonbills amongst hundreds of other birds and ducks at the wetlands.
Reef Catchments Water Projects Manager Carl Mitchell held a demonstration on macro- invertebrate identification and looked at water bugs that are used to assess the health of wetlands.
Mr Mitchell said “water bugs are an important part of the food chain and tell us a lot about wetland health”.
Previously the property had been used to graze cattle and the wetlands had been extensively modified reducing bird and fish habitat.
Over the last eight years the owners have progressively restored the area to its natural state by controlling exotic pasture grasses and weeds allowing the return of native wetland vegetation.
With funding from Reef Catchments, there are now fresh water, brackish and saltwater lagoons that are surrounded by melaleucas, rainforest, beach scrub and mangrove forests, sedges and reeds. The area is now a restored healthy functioning wetlands ecosystem supporting thriving fish and bird life.
Success for Ballandean students on climate change quest
Ballandean State School students are combining fun and learning as they work to lower the carbon footprint of their school and community. The school, with the help from Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC), secured a community grant awarded through the Department of Environment and Resource Management’s Low Carbon Diet Community Funding Program.
Ballandean State School Principal Kath Wenban said a coordinated school-wide approach to sustainable education had led to the development of the Ballandean Environmentally Sustainable Team (BEST).
“The students in this team took a lead role at a workshop on 27 May where the whole community learnt more about recycling, reusing and renewable sources of energy,” Ms Wenban said.
“The students took everyone on a tour of existing school sustainability projects aimed at reducing our ecological footprint, including a Bokashi composing system, paper brick making, a vegetable garden and aluminium can recycling,” she said.
The day also involved hands-on sessions on recycling, energy, waste and climate change. As part of the activities, students used pedal power to drive a milkshake maker and harnessed the energy of the sun to toast marshmallows in a solar cooker.
Another information and activity session is planned for later in the year at Ballandean State School but will be held later in the afternoon to encourage working parents to attend. For more information, contact Kath Wenban on 4684 1254 or Renee Fletcher on 4637 6224.
Photograph of rare bat another world first
A very rare bat found in the Burnett Mary region which feeds exclusively on spiders has been photographed for the very first time.Renowned wildlife photographer and publisher Steve Parish recently photographed a golden-tipped bat (Kerivoula papuensis) which was in the care of Rachel Lyons, a dedicated wildlife carer and Biodiversity Conservation Regional Coordinator for the Burnett Mary Regional Group.
The male bat had suffered injuries after flying into a ceiling fan while hunting on the veranda of a residence at Kandanga.
According to mammalogist Les Hall, who accompanied Steve Parish on the photo shoot, spider consumption is regarded as being rare in bats and the notion that one species feeds almost exclusively on spiders is a revelation.
Les Hall said “As far as I know, a close-up photo or video of a bat eating a spider has never been taken.”
The golden-tipped bat was discovered in Australia in 1884 and sighted again near Cooktown in 1897. However, after 1897 the species almost disappeared. By the 1970s, the rare species was considered close to extinction, according to mammalogists David Ride and Harry Frith.
Ms Lyons said the bat found at Kandanga was expected to fully recover, “it appeared to have suffered a badly bruised shoulder but an Xray showed no bone fractures.”
To view a video of the bat feeding, visit the Youtube website.
MangroveWatch is coming to the area
Enthusiastic Wide Bay locals are joining a new Community Coastcare project to help look after Burnett Mary’s valuable estuary and mangrove habitats.
MangroveWatch is a new initiative for community groups and individuals to monitor change taking place in mangroves and tidal wetlands of the Burnett Mary region. Changes might be caused by climate or sea level rise, or due to local disturbances and pollution.
The Community Coastcare, Caring for our Country, project is facilitated by the University of Queensland and supported by a range of stakeholders including the Burnett Mary Regional Group.
University science specialists will help provide training to community members on scientifically useful and practical assessment methods for habitat health assessment. They will also assist in the selection of monitoring sites and providing expert advice.
With this assistance, community members will become better-informed custodians of local waterways and tidal wetlands. MangroveWatchers will collect samples and data for compilation and analysis together with the university specialists. The plan is to prepare a public report for May next year on key issues affecting the Wide Bay area’s estuaries and mangroves, and their overall health. The area covered extends from Eurimbula Creek in the north to Tin Can Bay in the south.
For more information, or to participate in the MangroveWatch program, please e-mail Dr Norm Duke the MangroveWatch Burnett Mary Region Facilitator or phone on 3365 2729.
Run rabbits run - controlling rabbit populations
The rabbits around Stanthorpe are in for a tough time as a project targeting their homes aims to reduce the pest animals’ impact on valuable crops and pastures.
Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC) Weed and Pest Technical Officer Shane Cartwright said the key was coordinated control but not just between landholders.
“We are also working at coordinating control methods so it’s not just ripping warrens or clearing harbours or removing blackberry or fumigating burrows; it’s got to be a combination of these things to have a significant impact on their numbers,” Mr Cartwright said.
The area at Stanthorpe targeted by the current project between landholders, QMDC, Biosecurity Queensland, the Darling Downs-Moreton Rabbit Board and Landcare spans both sides of the 116-year-old rabbit fence. According to Darling Downs-Moreton Rabbit Board Inspector Mark Ridge, for every one rabbit on the ‘clean’ side of the fence, there might be 10 or more on the dirty side.
Mr Ridge said, “This places enormous pressure on the fence which is why we’re involved with this coordinated program, to try and establish a buffer zone on the dirty side to reduce the threat to the fence which has obviously been doing a great job.”
“If we can take away the rabbits’ harbour, there is more chance of them being picked up by predators before they make an attempt to cross over into the clean side,” he said.
“Removing their homes is a longer term solution; if the homes are left, rabbits have repeatedly proven they can quickly re-populate an area,” Mr Ridge said.
For more information about this project please visit the QMDC website.
Kick-start for Killala Creek
Last month Killala Creek, near Mundubbera, received an extreme makeover. The degraded wetland, also known as Red Gully, had been run down with weeds and litter in the past, but an initiative of the North Burnett Regional Council together with the Central branch of Burnett Catchment Care Association has resulted in the facelift of a lifetime.
The site has many qualities that were identified as being a priority for investment by Wetland Care Australia. This includes an ephemeral creek line which provides drainage for surrounding grazing lands and a residential area.
Killala Creek has been in a moderate condition, but with support from the Burnett Mary Regional Group, the creek will soon be ‘kicking’ along nicely.
Almost 200 trees were planted along the riparian zone of the creek after the exotic grasses and other weed species were chemically treated and then burned. Assisting Council to plant these trees were over 80 students and teachers from Mundubbera State School (years 7 to 10).
The students had a short lesson in the importance of the species being planted and then it was straight into work. The effort of all involved has resulted in a new revitalised Killara Creek and a community that can be proud of the work they have done and can see everyday.
Next time you travel into Mundubbera from Gayndah or Eidsvold you will be able to take a look at the work for yourself.
Best practice fire management for central Queensland
Reef Catchments is currently funding a control line across the top of Eton range a part of the Clarke-Connors Ranges, which are the blue mountains surrounding Mackay and the Pioneer Valley.
Fires regularly start on the western slopes of Eaton range and move eastward over the range threatening native habitats, cane and infrastructure. Almost as often, a fire starting on the eastern slopes races over the range to the western side, destroying native habitats, pasture, fences, and sheds.
The 10 kilometres of constructed control line will offer protection from encroaching fire to landowners across three rural brigade areas. Construction of this break commenced in late May. More breaks will be funded in the future as the need is identified and when funding allows.
Reef Catchments has recently run a series of workshops to gain feedback on the recently completed first draft of the Best Practice Fire Management Guidelines for the Central Queensland Coast. This document is the result of extensive consultation with rural fires officers, landowners and ecologists over the last six months.
The draft document outlines preferred fire strategies for 12 of the most common landscape types in the Central Queensland Coast Bioregion. This document is now completed and has been distributed in hard copy to all rural fire brigades, and will be distributed to landowners on request. The information will also be available on the Reef Catchment website.
Improved fish passage for the Mackay Whitsunday region
Reef Catchments and the Queensland Primary Industry and Fishing formed a partnership and inspected over 100 barriers to fish in the Mackay Whitsunday region and rated them in importance. The top 20 were prioritised for construction of fish-ways or barrier removal to allow fish passage between the estuary, creeks and rivers.
This was a two year project and every site was different requiring innovative solutions by the fish-ways construction team. Now constructed, each fish-way has provided greatly improved fish passage resulting in higher productivity benefits that will ultimately improve biodiversity, plus commercial and recreational fish captures.
Recently, a team recording and photographing the fish-ways project witnessed the annual mass migration of thousands of eight millimetre juvenile empire gudgeons travelling up-river through firstly the rock fish-way under the Seaforth Creek road bridge and on through the next concrete fish-way to the further inland part of Seaforth Creek. These tiny fish form the major part of barramundi diet demonstrating the fish-way was functioning successfully.
For more information visit the Reef Catchments website.
Government updates
State budget to deliver better environmental outcomes for Queensland
The State Budget will help build a more sustainable future for Queensland, Climate Change and Sustainability with $409 million of the $915 million Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) budget for 2009-10 dedicated to protecting the environment and moving towards a lower-carbon economy.
Key environmental initiatives of the 2009-10 budget include:
- implementing the revised Queensland Climate Change Strategy
- Environmental Impact Statement assessments
- Research; monitor and expand opportunities for recreational anglers in Moreton Bay
- new walking tracks in Cooloola, Conondale Range, Carnarvon and the Whitsunday Islands and a feasibility study for the development of a new Great Walk from the Daintree River to the tip of Cape York
- improve reef quality and support the regulation of agricultural run-off affecting the Great Barrier Reef from key pollutants such as nutrients, sediments and pesticides.
The initiatives will deliver on the State Government's Toward Q2: Tomorrow's Queensland ambitions to protect our environment and lifestyle, and to make Queensland Australia's strongest economy.
Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones said "this budget provides for the work being done by more than 2000 rangers and other environmental officers involved in providing front line services to protect and maintain Queensland's environment."
"DERM's expanded resources and increased budget will better equip us to manage the balance between the environment and our natural resource needs, and maintain Queensland's long-term sustainability and economic well-being," Ms Jones said.
To view the full budget for DERM visit the budget website.
Fishers face fines for ignoring Moreton Bay green zones
From 1 July, anyone who drops a line in Moreton Bay where they should not can expect to face an on-the-spot fine of $500. Fishers have been warned they now face prosecution and fines for flouting the new no-fishing zones in Moreton Bay from 1 July.
Fishers were given a four-month grace period to become aware of and accustomed to the new boundaries of the expanded zones which restrict fishing. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers and Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers have been carrying out an education program for the past four months, opting to spread the word over handing out fines.
It is equally important for boat operators to be aware of the 'go slow' areas in Moreton Bay Marine Park. Most are in place to protect turtle and dugong which often swim just below the surface. Within go slow areas, boaties must operate off-the-plane and motorised water sports such as skiing are prohibited. Fines of $400 apply to those disregarding the 'go slow' provisions.
The Moreton Bay zoning plan protects 16 per cent of the Bay as green zones. Fishing is not allowed in the green zones, but is still permitted in 84 per cent of the park. The green zones are still open to boats and activities such as snorkelling and scuba-diving.
There needs to be a balance of the needs of the bay with those who use it, now and for the future. The zoning plan is designed to do exactly that - a little bit of care by everyone will ensure the bay is in good health for generations to come.
The Moreton Bay Marine Park User Guide is available for free from more than 170 outlets in south-east Queensland and can also be downloaded at Department of Environment and Resource Management website.
Stranger danger a tough lesson for young fish
Everyone learned about stranger danger in school, and scientists have discovered the lesson is just as important for young fish. As unusual as it sounds researchers have been teaching hatchery reared fingerlings to fear and avoid predators and it works.
Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries (QPIF) is part of a threatened species recovery program and one of the key ways to rebuild threatened fish populations is to rear young fish in hatcheries and release them into the wild. Unfortunately, hatchery reared native fish often suffer high mortality rates, up to 90 percent, within the first couple of hours after being released into their natural habitat. As they have never been exposed to predators in the hatchery, they make an easy meal.
QPIF’s Bribie Island Research Centre (BIRC) is training juvenile Murray cod, silver perch and eel-tailed catfish, by introducing them to predator fish in a protected environment. The juvenile fish are placed on one side of a mesh-partitioned tank and a predator fish on the other. Skin extracts from the prey fish containing 'alarm pheromones' are also placed in the predator side of the tank. These chemicals act as a warning to the juveniles and they soon learn to associate the vibrations, smell and sight of the predator with danger.
Trained fish recognise predators more readily and either maintain their distance from predators or use cover more effectively, whereas untrained fish become an easy meal. Scientists are hoping these training juvenile fish will help rebuild populations in the wild.
In addition to training the juvenile fish prior to release, scientists are testing the effectiveness of a 'soft release' into the wild, where fish are released into their new environment in a predator free cage, allowing them to get their bearings and overcome any transport stress.
Field trials currently underway will test the difference in survival rates of trained and untrained fish, as well as the effect of the soft release. If the trials are successful, scientists will be able to restore threatened native fish species in Queensland waterways more quickly and cost-effectively.
For more information contact the QPIF Business Information Centre on 13 25 23 or visit the QPIF website.
Call for membership for new regional development committees
The State Government wants to hear from people from all walks of life keen to shape the future of their region. The new government-sponsored network called Regional Development Australia (RDA) Committees will begin operating from 1 July this year.
The network of 12 committees throughout regional Queensland replace Area Consultative Committees and will meet regularly to discuss regional priorities and suggest ways Government can help to advance their regions. The joint initiative between the state and federal governments will create enormous scope to advance regional development and form a major consultation mechanism for both governments. Committees will provide direct input on what is happening at the grass roots level.
Local government will also be involved which means all three tiers of government will be working together with industry and the community to advance regions.
There are roles available for a Committee Chair, Deputy Chairs and committee members who are keen to make a real difference to the decision making process. The application process for potential committee members is a two-page application based on selection criteria.
Committee Chairs and Deputy Chairs will be eligible for a two-year term, while committee members can nominate for a two or four year term. Applications close on 22 June. A map of the new RDAs can be accessed on the RDA website or for more information, email the RDA Queensland.
Major research investment to help farmers adapt to climate change
The Australian Government has announced a major research investment to help agricultural industries adapt to climate change, including the grain, grape, dairy, aquaculture and beef industries.
Under the Climate Change Research Program a total of $37.6 million for 10 projects will be available.
In July 2008, the Australian Government announced three priorities under the program: reducing greenhouse pollution, improving soil management and adapting to a changing climate.
Funding has already been committed to projects targeting the first two priorities. This new funding is for the third research priority including $11 million from the Australian Government and contributions from industry research bodies including Meat and Livestock Australia and the Grains Research and Development Corporation.
Projects will be established in all states and include developing genetic traits in wheat and sorghum that suit hotter, drier environments; investigating relocating some production systems to northern Australia; and researching the implications of climate change on fisheries and aquaculture.
For more information on the Climate Change Research Program visit the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries website.
Plan to halt spread of rogue leucaena in Mackay
The Mackay Regional Pest Management Group is embarking on a campaign to halt the alarming spread of leucaena, a fodder plant that in Mackay and surrounding areas, is invading creek banks, roadsides and mangrove margins.
The Mackay Regional Pest Management Group has received $20,000 from the Queensland Government's Blueprint for the Bush initiative to fund a 12-month program to establish a leuecaena management plan.
Leucaena is a prolific seeder and in the tropical coastal environment of Mackay, it has become an invasive weed. As part of the management plan, leucaena sites are being mapped and control trials conducted for its removal.
All members of the Mackay-Whitsunday community can help by informing the newly-formed Leucaena Management Working Group where the weed is growing uncontrolled or unmanaged.
Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries Biosecurity Queensland Officer Corey Bell said they will be holding a leucaena mapping workshop on 26 June from 10am to 2pm in Mackay, but in the meantime he is urging all landholders and community-minded people to grab a notebook, map or a GPS to record where they have seen the weed growing.
People interested in attending the leucaena mapping workshop are asked to RSVP by email to Corey Bell or call on 4967 0647 or 0407 639 507.
Biological warfare breaking new ground to tackle bee industry threat
Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries are at the forefront of research that could help beekeepers control a pest that is having a significant impact on their industry.
Scientists have been investigating ways of controlling the small hive beetle for the last year. The small hive beetle is an exotic pest from Africa and was first detected in Australia in 2002.
The beetle has already caused considerable damage to Queensland's beekeeping industry, which is worth an estimated $40 million a year in honey and wax sales. The beetle’s larvae ruin honey by turning it into black slime, known in the industry as a 'slime out' when a whole hive is destroyed.
The industry is concerned because of the destruction small hive beetles can cause and the fact they are spreading at an alarming rate. Beetles can travel some 15 kilometres a day and in Queensland they have been reported as far north as Townsville and south to the state border.
QPIF Scientist Diana Leemon said their research was focusing on fungus. QPIF have discovered a naturally occurring fungus, metarhizium that kills small hive beetle larvae. They are also studying another fungus, beauveria, which has already been tested with positive results.
Testing involves infecting the small hive beetles with fungal spores and QPIF have found the metarhizium seems to work well on larvae, while the beauveria is better at targeting the adult beetles.
The research has attracted international attention, with a delegation of New Zealand beekeepers recently meeting with QPIF scientists and biosecurity officers in Brisbane.
For the complete story please visit the media statements website.
Reef updates
Partnership improves species management
Dugongs and marine turtles in the Cape York area will be better protected thanks to an innovative partnership between marine managers, Traditional Owners and researchers.
This month, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), in conjunction with James Cook University (JCU) and the Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF), held a three-day spatial closures workshop in Cairns with Traditional Owners from the east coast of Cape York.
James Cook University dugong expert Professor Helene Marsh said the Cape York Turtle and Dugong Spatial Closures Workshop aimed to work with Traditional Owners to map out a clear way forward for protecting dugongs and turtles in the area.
"Harnessing the expertise of scientific researchers and Indigenous local experts will play a key role in helping protect turtles and dugongs in the Cape York region," she said.
"We hope to get a really good picture of the current status of dugong and turtle populations in the area and use scientific and traditional knowledge to help develop effective strategies to protect and manage these animals," Helene Marsh said.
The Traditional Owner groups represented at the meeting were from the east coast of Cape York and include Gudang, Yadhaigana, Wuthathi, Kuuku Ya’u, Kanthanumpun, Uutaalgnunu Umpila, Guugu Yimithirr, Kuku Yalanji and Kaurareg.
For more information on the partnership visit the GBRMPA website.
Cairns tourism operators help keep eye on the Reef
Tourism operators in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park near Cairns are better equipped to keep an eye on the Reef after comprehensive training in reef health monitoring by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA).
Forty-five crew members, from 20 tourism operators, took part in the training in Cairns as part of the successful Eye on the Reef Monitoring Program.
The Eye on the Reef Monitoring Program is an important contributor to the way GBRMPA is gathering long-term data on the health of the Reef.
GBRMPA Chairman Russell Reichelt said “the program is vital at a time when the Reef’s health is under pressure from threats such as climate change and declining water quality. We can manage the Reef better with up-to-date data on key locations.”
As part of the program, operators are asked to fill in the log sheets on each visit to their reef sites, listing the conditions at their sites such as turbidity, water temperature, algae, coral diseases and bleaching as well as the health, numbers and spawning activity of iconic and protected species.
The information is then collated by GBRMPA and used by managers and scientists. The findings are regularly returned to tourism operators and crew who can use the data for interpretation and staff training.
Since its inception, the program has been able to contribute positively to coral reef science, reef health and understanding, as well as environmental education.
For more information on the program visit the GBRMPA website.
Wetlands updates
Emmaus to build wetlands
Emmaus College in Jimboomba has received a $15,000 Logan City Council grant for a wetlands walk project for the school’s students.
The grant is for $5000 per year over three years and will help put in place an environmental walk that will be used by senior science and geography classes and primary classes right the way down to prep students across the school.
The walk winds through the school grounds, past onsite dams and through low lying wetland areas.
Head of secondary college Steve Adair said the walk would be an educational tool for the school with students studying and identifying water species.
Mr Adair said the project would protect the temporal wetlands and the walk will be also open to the public.
Workshop focuses on healthy wetlands
Local wetland managers had a wealth of resources available to them at a workshop in Rockhampton this week.
The workshop was funded by the Queensland Wetlands Program with the workshop supported by Fitzroy River and Coastal Catchments (FRCC), a catchment management group that works with landholders, community and councils to manage the health of local waterways.
FRCC project officer Stephanie Carusi said the workshop aimed to bring industry professionals up to date with latest management and information tools. FRCC is one of five sub-regional groups working with the Fitzroy Basin Association to promote and implement sustainable development projects in the Fitzroy Basin.
Ms Carusi said the first day involved visiting both urban and rural wetland sites around Rockhampton to understand what to look for when assessing wetlands and discuss various values and threats to the sites. The second day was spent applying tools to developing a site action plan for a particular wetland.
Participants learned about how to make the most of web-based resources such as the Wetlandinfo site which is a one-stop shop for Queensland wetland information.
The participants where also shown wetland rehabilitation guidelines for the Great Barrier Reef catchment, best management practice guidelines and rehabilitation case studies.
Further information on the workshop is available by emailing Jenni Edmonds of Wetland Care Australia all calling on 4724 3544.
Natural resources news
Alaska's Rat Island rat-free after 229 years
Pest management in the United States has had a recent success. Two hundred and twenty nine years ago a Japanese ship crashed onto the remote Alaskan Aleutian island, introducing the Norway rat which decimated the local bird population.
For one and half weeks in late 2008, poison was dropped onto the island using a helicopter-hoisted bucket. According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service there are no signs of living rats and now there are signs that several species of birds, including Aleutian cackling geese, ptarmigan, peregrine falcons and black oystercatchers, are starting to nest again on the 26 square kilometre island.
The $US2.5 million Rat Island eradication project, a joint effort between the US Government, the Nature Conservancy and Island Conservation, is one of the world's most ambitious attempts to remove destructive alien species from an island.
Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman Bruce Woods says they will officially be able to declare the island rat-free after two years of monitoring.
"We don't know that there's not a couple of happy rats hiding away that are going to spring out and repopulate the island," Mr Woods said.
Environmental excellence recognised
Individuals, groups, networks and organisations achieving environmental excellence are urged to nominate for the 2009 Queensland Landcare Awards, which close on 1 July.
The Landcare Awards are regarded as one of the top environmental awards in Australia, rewarding people and associations making significant contributions to natural resource management.
The 2009 state awards feature 10 categories, including two new awards. The new categories are a young leaders and urban land care award. The popular Peoples Choice Award will be conducted by a public vote, with all the other awards assessed by a panel of expert judges. The winners will be announced at a gala awards ceremony at Government House on 1 September.
The state awards are organised by Queensland Water and Land Carers (QWaLC) and have categories covering primary producers, local government partnerships, education, indigenous initiatives and community groups.
QWaLC Community Relations Manager Natalie Mogg said the categories recognise environmental programs across the wider community.
A full list of categories, including entry forms, for the 2009 Queensland Landcare Awards are available from the QWaLC website.
CYMAG hosts fourth Annual Marine and Coastal NRM workshop in Cooktown
Cape York Marine Advisory Group (CYMAG) hosted the fourth Annual Marine and Coastal NRM workshop in Cooktown on 3–4 June, funded by Australian and Queensland governments, following the success of previous workshops funded.
The goal of the workshop was to continue promoting open communication and co-ordination between organisations conducting marine and coastal NRM in Cape York.
At the workshop a number of key representative organisations delivered a short presentation on their activities in Cape York marine and coastal NRM, and identified priorities for future activities. Presenters also provided a one page abstract to be included in the Workshop Proceedings Report.
Sessions on day one focused on: current government and NGO programs; introduction to Cape York NRM working group; Wetlands, Water Quality and Reef Research; biodiversity and aquatic species and weeds and feral animals.
Sessions on day two focused on: supporting Cape York communities and NRM; a presentation of current community NRM projects; and an open forum to discuss the support needed by CYP Communities for NRM activities.
For further information visit the CYMAG website, phone Ian McCollum on 4069 5300 or email Christina Chowley.
Landcare Queensland introduces new Junior Landcare activity program
Junior Landcare encourages young people to play an active role in securing a sustainable future for natural resources, encouraging them to develop a sense of responsibility for natural environment.
To support young people’s involvement in Landcare, Landcare Queensland have developed a Junior Landcare activity program. Aimed at upper primary school the Junior Landcare activity program gives students the opportunity to participate in an environmental activity day, and experience the environment in or out of classroom setting, which is a rare opportunity.
With the support of ENERGEX, Landcare Queensland will pilot the Junior Landcare activity program in South East Queensland during 2009. Landcare Queensland is hoping to extend the project across Queensland with the support of new partners.
As well as the Junior Landcare activity day program Landcare Queensland has compiled educational materials which can be used to connect Landcare activities to school curriculum. These can be accessed on the Queensland Landcare website.
If your school or youth group would like to find out more about Junior Landcare and how you might become involved please contact Landcare Queensland on 3211 4413.
Get a job in NRM!
Are you interested in working with Queensland's regional natural resource management bodies? Then head to the Regional Groups' Collective or NRMjobs website where current job opportunities are now available. Be sure to check back regularly to ensure you don't miss out on the job of a lifetime!
Here's a sample of what's on offer:
Regional body/organisation: Australian Government Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (Land and Coasts Division)
Title: Caring for our Country Facilitator
Tenure: Full-time
Salary range: $78,903-$87,525 pa
Location: location negotiable, Queensland
Contact: Australian Government's Environment Jobs website
Closing date: 22 June 2009
and
Regional body/organisation: Australian Government Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (Land and Coasts Division)
Title: Caring for our Country Facilitator (part time)
Tenure: Part-time (0.6 FTE) for 18-month
Salary range: $64,156-$72,587 pa
Location: Brisbane
Contact: Australian Government's Environment Jobs website
Closing date: 22 June 2009
Thought for the week
The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them.
Denis Watley
***
We welcome your contributions and feedback. If you have any comments or suggestions for The Bugle please contact Carl Glen or Ruthie Adams.
View past issues of The Bugle.
The Bugle is a weekly newsletter published by Catchment Programs, the Department of Environment and Resources Management, highlighting regional NRM activities around Queensland.
Last updated 19 June 2009